308:
827:
geographical, since the properly "northern" Rabi'a adhered to the "southern" Yemenis. The
Umayyad caliphs tried to maintain a balance between the two groups, but this division and the implacable rivalry between the two groups became a fixture of the Arab world over the following decades, as even originally unaligned tribes were drawn to affiliate themselves with one of the two super-groups. Their constant contest for power and influence dominated the Umayyad Caliphate, creating instability in the provinces, helping to foment the disastrous
315:
751:
success by the possible defection of Qays-aligned tribes during the preceding weeks, eager to uphold the Syrian hegemony over the
Caliphate. In addition, Elisséeff points out that the Umayyads still controlled the state treasury in Damascus, allowing them to bribe tribes to join them. The remnants of the Qays army fled to
750:
A plethora of anecdotes, individual accounts, and poems on the battle survives, but the details of the battle itself are not clear, except that the day resulted in a crushing
Umayyad victory: the main leaders of the Qays, including al-Dahhak, fell in the field. Nikita Elisséeff explains the Umayyad
826:
alliance in Iraq. Together, these rivalries caused a realignment of tribal loyalties into two tribal confederations or "super-groups" across the
Caliphate: the "North Arab" or Qays/Mudar block, opposed by the "South Arabs" or Yemenis, although these terms were political rather than strictly
612:. His death provoked a crisis, since his other brothers were too young to succeed. As a result, Umayyad authority collapsed across the Caliphate and Ibn al-Zubayr was accepted by most of the Muslims as their new leader: the Umayyad governor of
767:
The victory at Marj Rahit secured the
Umayyads' position in Syria, and allowed them to go onto the offensive against Ibn al-Zubayr's supporters. Egypt was recovered later in the year, but an attempt to recover Iraq under
1368:
The
History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XX: The Collapse of Sufyānid Authority and the Coming of the Marwānids: The Caliphates of Muʿāwiyah II and Marwān I and the Beginning of the Caliphate of ʿAbd al-Malik, A.D. 683–685/A.H.
660:. Even some members of the Umayyad family considered going to Mecca and declaring their allegiance to him. In central and southern Syria, however, the Umayyad cause was upheld by the local tribes, led by the
718:
The two armies first clashed in mid-July 684 at the plain of Marj al-Suffar, and the Qays were pushed towards Marj Rahit, a plain some 17 kilometres northeast of
Damascus (between the modern cities of
788:
and gained control of all of Iraq in 687. In 691, Abd al-Malik managed to bring Zufar al-Kilabi's Qays back into the
Umayyad fold, and advanced into Iraq. Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr was
744:
735:
inflates the numbers to 30,000 and 60,000 respectively. The traditions agree, however, that the
Umayyad forces were considerably outnumbered. Marwan's commanders were
784:, who had succeeded his father Marwan I after the latter's death in April 685, thereafter restricted himself to securing his own position, while Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr
727:). Twenty days of skirmishing between the two camps followed, until the final battle took place on 18 August. The numbers of the two opponents are uncertain:
810:
The most enduring legacy of Marj Rahit was the hardening of the Qays–Kalb split in Syria, which was paralleled in the division and rivalry between the
361:
707:. After vacillating between the two candidates, al-Dahhak was persuaded to recognize Ibn al-Zubayr, and began assembling his forces on the field of
1512:
579:
in
October 680, leaving Ibn al-Zubayr as the leading contender. As long as Yazid lived, Ibn al-Zubayr denounced his rule from the sanctuary of
853:
writes, "As late as the nineteenth century, battles were still being fought in Palestine between groups calling themselves Qays and Yaman".
583:
but did not openly claim the Caliphate, instead insisting that the Caliph should be chosen in the traditional manner, by a tribal assembly (
1527:
307:
62:
711:
near Damascus. In response, the Umayyad coalition marched on Damascus, which was surrendered to the Umayyads by a member of the
1497:
354:
1449:
1377:
1352:
1321:
1266:
323:
564:
elites, who challenged the Umayyads' claim to the succession. Among them, the two chief candidates for the caliphate were
1338:
529:), paving the way for their eventual victory in the war against Ibn al-Zubayr. However, it also left a bitter legacy of
1425:
1401:
347:
192:
608:, but he died a few weeks later and never enjoyed any real authority outside the family's traditional stronghold of
731:
puts Marwan's forces at 6,000, another tradition at 13,000 and 30,000 for Marwan and al-Dahhak respectively, while
637:
849:], and at the same time shattered the foundations of their power". The division continued long after: as
756:
629:
521:; the latter had proclaimed himself Caliph. The Kalbi victory consolidated the position of the Umayyads over
575:. Husayn at first attempted an outright revolt against the Umayyads, but this resulted in his death at the
412:
601:, the holiest city of Islam, but Yazid's death in November forced the expeditionary force to return home.
747:
the infantry), while only one of al-Dahhak's commanders, Ziyad ibn Amr ibn Mu'awiya al-Uqayli, is known.
704:
533:, which would be a constant source of strife and instability for the remainder of the Umayyad Caliphate.
510:
248:
1329:
665:
657:
641:
420:
239:
1492:
1441:
The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century
781:
593:. After the open revolt of Medina against Umayyad rule, in 683 Yazid sent an army to Arabia that
163:
805:
572:
518:
475:
397:
225:
1522:
1372:. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.
617:
613:
530:
221:
793:
598:
494:
447:
432:
8:
594:
556:, in 680, the Muslim world was thrown into turmoil. Although Mu'awiya had named his son,
1463:
743:
and Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad (another tradition has Ubayd Allah commanding the cavalry and
699:
Marwan's election provoked the reaction of the Qays, who rallied around the Governor of
1507:
1308:
832:
427:
792:, and Umayyad authority re-established across the East. In October 692, after another
1469:
1459:
1445:
1421:
1397:
1373:
1348:
1312:
1300:
1262:
840:
576:
553:
498:
392:
115:
1292:
789:
785:
769:
681:
442:
407:
265:
252:
243:
1280:
1439:
1435:
1415:
1411:
1391:
1366:
1256:
850:
736:
560:, as his heir, this choice was not universally recognized, especially by the old
466:
233:
1333:
1325:
1276:
708:
645:
605:
568:
620:, was evicted from the province, coins in Ibn al-Zubayr's name were minted in
1517:
1486:
1473:
1387:
1362:
1304:
1296:
649:
609:
590:
542:
522:
196:
180:
127:
77:
64:
1502:
720:
486:
371:
185:
142:
32:
1417:
The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State
828:
732:
724:
202:
175:
152:
1468:. Translated by Margaret Graham Weir. Calcutta: University of Calcutta.
815:
773:
403:
132:
752:
740:
728:
712:
680:, a distant cousin of Mu'awiya I who had been a close aide of Caliph
661:
633:
490:
229:
147:
137:
122:
836:
819:
700:
677:
502:
217:
56:
1281:"Were the Qays and Yemen of the Umayyad Period Political Parties?"
694:
557:
97:
1161:
673:
653:
621:
561:
526:
339:
796:, Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr was killed, and the civil war ended.
759:, and Marwan was officially proclaimed as Caliph at Damascus.
1112:
811:
777:
585:
580:
514:
328:
1393:
The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661–750
1024:
632:(Upper Mesopotamia) went over to his cause. The governor of
1014:
1012:
644:
who dominated his district supported Ibn al-Zubayr, as did
625:
565:
506:
384:
170:
1221:
1209:
1124:
845:
823:
1185:
1173:
1136:
1069:
1067:
1065:
1063:
1048:
1009:
973:
913:
874:
961:
937:
843:, Marj Rahit "brought victory to the Umaiyids [
1197:
1233:
1060:
1036:
997:
985:
891:
889:
1100:
949:
925:
862:
691:), was elected as the Umayyads' caliphal candidate.
480:
1396:(Second ed.). London and New York: Routledge.
531:
division and rivalry between the Qays and the Yaman
901:
886:
314:
1484:
695:Opening skirmishes and the battle of Marj Rahit
489:. It was fought on 18 August 684 between the
355:
264:Ma'n ibn Yazid ibn al-Akhnas al-Sulami
648:, who expelled the pro-Umayyad governor of
1458:
1339:The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition
1227:
919:
880:
362:
348:
1347:. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 544–546.
1319:
1094:
1513:Battles involving the Umayyad Caliphate
1434:
1410:
1386:
1361:
1239:
1215:
1203:
1191:
1179:
1167:
1155:
1142:
1130:
1118:
1073:
1054:
1042:
1030:
1018:
1003:
991:
979:
967:
955:
943:
931:
868:
1485:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1082:
668:and Ibn Ziyad. At their initiative, a
485:) was one of the early battles of the
1275:
1254:
1106:
907:
895:
497:tribal confederation, supporting the
343:
327:Location of the battle within modern
1444:(Second ed.). Harlow: Longman.
1079:
470:
13:
1420:. London and New York: Routledge.
1261:. London and New York: Routledge.
831:and contributing to the Umayyads'
770:Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad was defeated
205:of Palestine (Zubayrid loyalists)
14:
1539:
1528:Syria under the Umayyad Caliphate
628:tribes of northern Syria and the
672:of the loyal tribes was held at
604:Yazid was succeeded by his son,
369:
313:
306:
284:30,000 or 60,000, mostly cavalry
281:6,000 or 13,000, mostly infantry
16:Early battle of the Second Fitna
1148:
839:. Indeed, in the assessment of
686:
547:
1:
1498:680s in the Umayyad Caliphate
1465:The Arab Kingdom and Its Fall
856:
757:Zufar ibn al-Harith al-Kilabi
536:
762:
237:Malik ibn Hubayra al-Sakuni
7:
745:Malik ibn Hubayra al-Sakuni
705:al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fihri
638:Nu'man ibn Bashir al-Ansari
511:al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fihri
481:
249:al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fihri
10:
1544:
1248:
803:
297:Heavy, including 80 nobles
799:
772:by pro-Alid forces under
493:-dominated armies of the
379:
301:
288:
275:
262:Shurahbil ibn Dhi'l-Kala
240:Rawh ibn Zinba al-Judhami
211:
108:
38:
30:
25:
1297:10.1515/islm.1994.71.1.1
1170:, pp. 48–49, 51–53.
260:Ziyad ibn Amr al-Uqayli
741:Amr ibn Sa'id al-Ashdaq
652:, his rival within the
230:Amr ibn Sa'id al-Ashdaq
118:and pro-Umayyad tribes
1320:Elisséeff, N. (1991).
573:Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr
552:), the founder of the
519:Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr
421:Ibn al-Zubayr's Revolt
226:Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan
212:Commanders and leaders
1121:, p. 54 (n. 89).
1033:, pp. 49–50, 56.
618:Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
595:defeated the Medinans
589:) from among all the
289:Casualties and losses
222:Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
78:33.58389°N 36.46167°E
1255:Burns, Ross (2007).
835:at the hands of the
513:, who supported the
463:Battle of Marj Rahit
324:class=notpageimage|
26:Battle of Marj Rahit
1258:Damascus: A History
1097:, pp. 544–545.
790:defeated and killed
786:defeated al-Mukhtar
678:Marwan ibn al-Hakam
599:laid siege to Mecca
413:Madhar & Harura
74: /
1460:Wellhausen, Julius
1388:Hawting, Gerald R.
1218:, pp. 99–115.
1133:, pp. 59, 62.
806:Qays–Yaman rivalry
158:(Umayyad loyalist)
83:33.58389; 36.46167
1451:978-0-582-40525-7
1379:978-0-88706-855-3
1354:978-90-04-08112-3
1268:978-1-134-48850-6
1194:, pp. 54–55.
1182:, pp. 92–98.
1145:, pp. 31–32.
1057:, pp. 53–54.
1021:, pp. 90–91.
982:, pp. 89–90.
970:, pp. 47–48.
946:, pp. 49–51.
841:Julius Wellhausen
577:Battle of Karbala
554:Umayyad Caliphate
479:
456:
455:
338:
337:
116:Umayyad Caliphate
104:
103:
55:Marj Rahit, near
1535:
1477:
1455:
1431:
1407:
1383:
1358:
1316:
1272:
1243:
1237:
1231:
1225:
1219:
1213:
1207:
1201:
1195:
1189:
1183:
1177:
1171:
1165:
1159:
1158:, pp. 54–69
1152:
1146:
1140:
1134:
1128:
1122:
1116:
1110:
1104:
1098:
1092:
1077:
1071:
1058:
1052:
1046:
1040:
1034:
1028:
1022:
1016:
1007:
1001:
995:
989:
983:
977:
971:
965:
959:
953:
947:
941:
935:
929:
923:
917:
911:
905:
899:
893:
884:
878:
872:
866:
690:
688:
682:Uthman ibn Affan
551:
549:
541:At the death of
484:
474:
472:
374:
364:
357:
350:
341:
340:
317:
316:
310:
270:
257:
244:Bishr ibn Marwan
89:
88:
86:
85:
84:
79:
75:
72:
71:
70:
67:
46:18 August 684 CE
40:
39:
23:
22:
1543:
1542:
1538:
1537:
1536:
1534:
1533:
1532:
1483:
1482:
1452:
1428:
1404:
1380:
1355:
1326:Bosworth, C. E.
1277:Crone, Patricia
1269:
1251:
1246:
1238:
1234:
1228:Wellhausen 1927
1226:
1222:
1214:
1210:
1202:
1198:
1190:
1186:
1178:
1174:
1166:
1162:
1153:
1149:
1141:
1137:
1129:
1125:
1117:
1113:
1105:
1101:
1093:
1080:
1072:
1061:
1053:
1049:
1041:
1037:
1029:
1025:
1017:
1010:
1002:
998:
990:
986:
978:
974:
966:
962:
954:
950:
942:
938:
930:
926:
920:Wellhausen 1927
918:
914:
906:
902:
894:
887:
881:Wellhausen 1927
879:
875:
867:
863:
859:
851:Hugh N. Kennedy
808:
802:
780:in August 686.
765:
737:Abbad ibn Ziyad
697:
685:
546:
539:
482:Yawm Marj Rāhiṭ
459:
458:
457:
452:
375:
370:
368:
334:
333:
332:
331:
326:
320:
319:
318:
266:
263:
261:
259:
253:
242:
238:
236:
234:Abbad ibn Ziyad
232:
228:
224:
220:
82:
80:
76:
73:
68:
65:
63:
61:
60:
59:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1541:
1531:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1493:680s conflicts
1479:
1478:
1456:
1450:
1432:
1426:
1408:
1402:
1384:
1378:
1365:, ed. (1989).
1363:Hawting, G. R.
1359:
1353:
1330:van Donzel, E.
1317:
1273:
1267:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1244:
1232:
1230:, p. 182.
1220:
1208:
1206:, p. 105.
1196:
1184:
1172:
1160:
1147:
1135:
1123:
1111:
1109:, p. 110.
1099:
1095:Elisséeff 1991
1078:
1059:
1047:
1035:
1023:
1008:
996:
984:
972:
960:
948:
936:
924:
922:, p. 173.
912:
900:
885:
883:, p. 181.
873:
860:
858:
855:
804:Main article:
801:
798:
794:siege of Mecca
764:
761:
709:Marj al-Suffar
696:
693:
689: 644–656
658:Rawh ibn Zinba
646:Natil ibn Qays
569:Husayn ibn Ali
550: 661–680
538:
535:
454:
453:
451:
450:
445:
440:
435:
430:
424:
423:
417:
416:
410:
400:
395:
389:
388:
380:
377:
376:
367:
366:
359:
352:
344:
336:
335:
322:
321:
312:
311:
305:
304:
303:
302:
299:
298:
295:
291:
290:
286:
285:
282:
278:
277:
273:
272:
246:
214:
213:
209:
208:
207:
206:
200:
190:
189:
188:
183:
178:
159:
157:
156:
150:
145:
140:
135:
130:
125:
111:
110:
106:
105:
102:
101:
95:
91:
90:
54:
52:
48:
47:
44:
36:
35:
28:
27:
21:
20:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1540:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1490:
1488:
1481:
1475:
1471:
1467:
1466:
1461:
1457:
1453:
1447:
1443:
1442:
1437:
1436:Kennedy, Hugh
1433:
1429:
1427:0-415-25093-5
1423:
1419:
1418:
1413:
1412:Kennedy, Hugh
1409:
1405:
1403:0-415-24072-7
1399:
1395:
1394:
1389:
1385:
1381:
1375:
1371:
1370:
1364:
1360:
1356:
1350:
1346:
1342:
1340:
1335:
1331:
1327:
1323:
1322:"Mardj Rāhiṭ"
1318:
1314:
1310:
1306:
1302:
1298:
1294:
1290:
1286:
1282:
1278:
1274:
1270:
1264:
1260:
1259:
1253:
1252:
1242:, p. 92.
1241:
1236:
1229:
1224:
1217:
1212:
1205:
1200:
1193:
1188:
1181:
1176:
1169:
1164:
1157:
1151:
1144:
1139:
1132:
1127:
1120:
1115:
1108:
1103:
1096:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1076:, p. 91.
1075:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1056:
1051:
1045:, p. 48.
1044:
1039:
1032:
1027:
1020:
1015:
1013:
1006:, p. 90.
1005:
1000:
994:, p. 47.
993:
988:
981:
976:
969:
964:
958:, p. 89.
957:
952:
945:
940:
934:, p. 46.
933:
928:
921:
916:
910:, p. 55.
909:
904:
898:, p. 45.
897:
892:
890:
882:
877:
871:, p. 31.
870:
865:
861:
854:
852:
848:
847:
842:
838:
834:
830:
825:
821:
817:
814:, led by the
813:
807:
797:
795:
791:
787:
783:
779:
775:
771:
760:
758:
754:
748:
746:
742:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
716:
714:
710:
706:
702:
692:
683:
679:
675:
671:
667:
663:
659:
655:
651:
647:
643:
639:
635:
631:
627:
623:
619:
615:
611:
610:Bilad al-Sham
607:
602:
600:
596:
592:
588:
587:
582:
578:
574:
570:
567:
563:
559:
555:
544:
534:
532:
528:
525:(the Islamic
524:
523:Bilad al-Sham
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
501:under Caliph
500:
496:
492:
488:
483:
477:
468:
464:
449:
446:
444:
441:
439:
436:
434:
431:
429:
426:
425:
422:
419:
418:
414:
411:
409:
405:
401:
399:
396:
394:
391:
390:
386:
382:
381:
378:
373:
365:
360:
358:
353:
351:
346:
345:
342:
330:
325:
309:
300:
296:
293:
292:
287:
283:
280:
279:
274:
271:
269:
258:
256:
250:
247:
245:
241:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
216:
215:
210:
204:
201:
198:
194:
191:
187:
184:
182:
179:
177:
174:
173:
172:
169:
168:
167:
165:
160:
154:
151:
149:
146:
144:
141:
139:
136:
134:
131:
129:
126:
124:
121:
120:
119:
117:
113:
112:
107:
99:
96:
93:
92:
87:
58:
53:
50:
49:
45:
42:
41:
37:
34:
29:
24:
19:
1523:Second Fitna
1480:
1464:
1440:
1416:
1392:
1367:
1344:
1337:
1288:
1284:
1257:
1240:Kennedy 2001
1235:
1223:
1216:Kennedy 2001
1211:
1204:Kennedy 2001
1199:
1192:Hawting 2000
1187:
1180:Kennedy 2001
1175:
1168:Hawting 2000
1163:
1156:Hawting 1989
1150:
1143:Kennedy 2001
1138:
1131:Hawting 2000
1126:
1119:Kennedy 2004
1114:
1102:
1074:Kennedy 2004
1055:Hawting 2000
1050:
1043:Hawting 2000
1038:
1031:Hawting 1989
1026:
1019:Kennedy 2004
1004:Kennedy 2004
999:
992:Hawting 2000
987:
980:Kennedy 2004
975:
968:Hawting 2000
963:
956:Kennedy 2004
951:
944:Hawting 2000
939:
932:Hawting 2000
927:
915:
903:
876:
869:Kennedy 2001
864:
844:
809:
782:Abd al-Malik
766:
749:
717:
698:
669:
603:
584:
540:
487:Second Fitna
471:يوم مرج راهط
462:
460:
437:
398:Ayn al-Warda
372:Second Fitna
267:
254:
186:Banu Dhubyan
161:
155:of Palestine
143:Banu al-Qayn
114:
109:Belligerents
33:Second Fitna
31:Part of the
18:
1334:Pellat, Ch.
829:Third Fitna
733:Ibn Khayyat
606:Mu'awiya II
203:Banu Judham
176:Banu Sulaym
153:Banu Judham
81: /
1487:Categories
1343:Volume VI:
1107:Burns 2007
908:Crone 1994
896:Crone 1994
857:References
833:final fall
818:, and the
816:Banu Tamim
774:al-Mukhtar
666:Ibn Bahdal
642:Himyarites
640:, and the
624:, and the
543:Mu'awiya I
537:Background
505:, and the
438:Marj Rahit
404:al-Mukhtar
402:Revolt of
193:Himyarites
181:Banu 'Amir
133:Ghassanids
69:36°27′42″E
66:33°35′02″N
1508:Banu Kalb
1474:752790641
1313:154370527
1305:0021-1818
1285:Der Islam
763:Aftermath
753:Qarqisiya
729:al-Tabari
713:Ghassanid
662:Banu Kalb
650:Palestine
476:romanized
448:2nd Mecca
433:1st Mecca
148:Tanukhids
138:Banu Tayy
123:Banu Kalb
1462:(1927).
1438:(2004).
1414:(2001).
1390:(2000).
1345:Mahk–Mid
1336:(eds.).
1291:: 1–57.
1279:(1994).
837:Abbasids
701:Damascus
676:, where
503:Marwan I
499:Umayyads
428:Al-Harra
276:Strength
218:Marwan I
164:Zubayrid
128:Kindites
57:Damascus
51:Location
1249:Sources
715:tribe.
591:Quraysh
562:Medinan
558:Yazid I
517:-based
478::
393:Karbala
387:risings
268:†
255:†
199:of Homs
166:forces
100:victory
98:Umayyad
1472:
1448:
1424:
1400:
1376:
1351:
1332:&
1311:
1303:
1265:
820:Rabi'a
800:Impact
755:under
674:Jabiya
664:under
656:tribe
654:Judham
630:Jazira
622:Persia
571:, and
527:Levant
509:under
467:Arabic
443:Maskin
408:Khazir
251:
94:Result
1369:64–66
1324:. In
1309:S2CID
812:Mudar
778:Mosul
776:near
721:Douma
670:shura
626:Qaysi
586:shura
581:Mecca
515:Mecca
495:Yaman
329:Syria
294:Light
197:Ansar
1518:Qays
1470:OCLC
1446:ISBN
1422:ISBN
1398:ISBN
1374:ISBN
1349:ISBN
1301:ISSN
1263:ISBN
1154:cf.
822:and
725:Adra
723:and
634:Homs
614:Iraq
597:and
566:Alid
507:Qays
491:Kalb
461:The
385:Alid
383:Pro-
195:and
171:Qays
162:Pro-
43:Date
1503:684
1293:doi
846:sic
824:Azd
1489::
1341:.
1328:;
1307:.
1299:.
1289:71
1287:.
1283:.
1081:^
1062:^
1011:^
888:^
739:,
703:,
687:r.
636:,
616:,
548:r.
473:,
469::
1476:.
1454:.
1430:.
1406:.
1382:.
1357:.
1315:.
1295::
1271:.
684:(
545:(
465:(
415:)
406:(
363:e
356:t
349:v
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